Method for arranging lines in a floor level to be divided up into smaller rooms and elements suitable for this method

ABSTRACT

A method of building construction which involves the steps of forming a building framework that includes a slab-like floor layer having an upper surface defining a habitable area and at least one horizontal groove opening into its lower surface, providing a pattern of duct-like parts on the floor layer in accord with an arbitrarily selected room layout, providing utility lines in the horizontal groove below the upper surface and in the duct-like parts above the upper surface, and providing partition walls atop the duct-like parts to form rooms.

The invention relates to a method for arranging lines in a floor levelto be divided up into smaller rooms in the case of house and utilitybuilding, starting from an unfinished floor area, whereby a partitionwall construction of random type is used as well as a floor constructionfor a building structure, such a floor consisting of an underlyingbearing construction of for example reinforced concrete and a coveringconstruction arranged thereon.

Known for house and utility building is the raising of a buildingstructure from a bearing construction consisting of for examplereinforced concrete with which the floors and bearing walls are formed.This construction can be made of pre-cast elements or cast-in-situconcrete elements.

Further it is usual to arrange the partition walls on the floor areas,which operation may or may not be subject to the wishes of the user.These partition walls may be permanent or movable. All these systemshave the drawback that the lines for gas, water, electricity and outletpipes are fitted later, which involves much extra work with respect tochannels to be hacked out and the like. Particularly in the case ofprefab building the arranging of the lines demands a coordinated planbecause decisions about one system (e.g. floors) are closely linked todecisions about another system. Passageways such as doors are moreoverdifficult to cross and special provisions have to be made for thispurpose. All this makes the building cost comparatively high.

For further finishing the bearing floor is levelled off or covered witha covering construction in which the supply and drain lines have to beaccomodated. With intersecting lines this may cause problems because asufficient separation must be maintained between these lines. Thisrequires much preparatory work such as determining the final arrangementand location of the lines, plotting the many dimensions, including theheight dimensions. In addition, the floor and the different types ofline are each laid by different tradesmen, which creates a coordinationproblem.

The invention has for its object to obviate the above mentioneddrawbacks and provides for this purpose a method which is distinguishedby:

placing on the floor of duct-like parts in accordance with thepreviously determined pattern of division,

the laying of lines of various types in these duct-like parts,

and the applying up to or close to the duct-like parts and on the roughfloor of a finishing layer, whereby the duct-like parts serve as a basisfor the partition walls to be placed thereon.

The concept of the invention has as starting point that the lines, whichmostly extend along or in the partition walls, must be fitted directlybefore placing of the partition walls, and at the location where theseare to be placed. This has become possible as a result of the duct-likeparts which support the partition walls, these parts accommodating therequired lines. Crossing at openings such as doors is furthermore easyto perform because the lines can run along beneath the door opening.This makes possible the so-called "closed loop" in a "smart house".

In order to facilitate connecting of the lines to supply and outletlines it is possible to have the covering layers of the floor providedwith groove channels that are recessed out of it. These groove channelsusually cross the partition walls and duct-like parts and thereforelines to be arranged in them so that easy connections can be carried outat the intersections.

The invention further relates to a method for laying out a space ofwhich the dimensions along two horizontal axes re defined by alongitudinal and transverse edge of a rough floor of a buildingconstruction.

With such a method the starting point up to the current time has beenthe marking out of determined marker points on the covering constructionof the rough floor, such marker points being used for placing of theupright parts in the space. These upright parts are for examplepartition or dividing walls, which normally have to be placed accordingto a pre-determined drawing plan. The inhabitant or user of the spacehas relatively little say in this matter, because the desired changesentail difficulties in system building.

The invention has for its object to improve the above mentioned methodsuch that each desired layout becomes possible without the demands ofsystem building being disregarded.

The method distinguishes itself in that tile-shaped elements ofpredetermined dimensions are arranged on the floor in rows runningparallel to a reference line that is determined beforehand by means ofthe system of co-ordinates, the upper surface of these elements beingprovided with markings, such as the peripheral edge or a relief, suchthat the markings on the elements together form a matrix, and in thatupright elements such as partition walls are placed in accordance withthe markings in the matrix.

The tiles are preferably laid abutting against one another in order toobtain a very fine-mesh matrix.

It is also possible to carry out the above stated method using the abovementioned tiles provided with an upper surface having grooves arrangedin a grid pattern, which grooves provide together with the other tilesthe very fine-mesh character of the matrix.

Additional lines can in accordance with the invention also beaccommodated in the finishing layer.

In all the above mentioned methods the finishing layer can have a dualfunction. On the one hand for the finishing of the floor, as is normal,but also for enclosing the duct-like parts at the sides, so that theseare a solid basis for the partition wall to be placed on them.

Further the invention has for its object tile-shaped elements havingrecesses on the top and/or bottom for passage of lines and the like.

The advantage of the tile-shaped elements is not only that the lines canbe easily placed where determining of their position is concerned, butalso that supply and drain lines are placed on different levels, makingit possible for the lines to cross one another without problem.

If a change is made to a detachable covering layer in the form of sheetswhich can be attached to the tiles, repair work can then also be carriedout in a relatively simple manner, because the covering layer and thetile layer only have to be removed locally. Later placing and/orchanging of lines remains possible without much breaking beingnecessary.

If the recesses on the upper face of the tiles are also used forattaching the upright parts, for example partition or dividing walls inthe space to be laid out on the floor, it is recommended that therecesses in the upper face are arranged as grooves according to a gridpattern.

The invention relates further to a member for a duct-like part that canbe used for the above stated methods.

Such a channel member is distinguished according to the invention by atleast one upright body part provided with a horizontally extendingflange portion along the upper and lower edge thereof. The body partdetermines the height of the duct-like part and therefore the heightabove the unfinished floor area at which the partition wall begins. Thelower flange portion ensures a stable support for the body part on thefloor area while the upper flange portion forms a good basis for thepartition wall to be placed.

In one embodiment the flanges can both run in the same directionrelative to the body part so that a duct opening to the side is formed.In this way access to the lines can still be gained, also after placingof the partition walls, so that repairs, replacement and the like arepossible.

In a further embodiment two body parts are attached against each other,resulting in the formation of two ducts opening to either side. Linescan in this way be laid on either side of a partition wall and remainaccessible afterwards.

In another embodiment two body parts are arranged at an interval fromeach other and the flanges are connected to each other to form a tubepart. These tube parts can be arranged at a distance from each other inorder to enable later accessibility of the lines and to form passagesfor accommodating of auxiliary material such as wall junction boxes.

In accordance with yet another embodiment at least the body parts can bemanufactured of intersecting rods for the forming of a gabion-like duct.

In addition the invention relates to a channel member for the forming ofa sill or the like which extends between two duct-like parts at thesides of an intended passage through the partition wall. This sillelement preferably has a U-shaped cross section. As a result of suchpassage of the lines below floor level the required "closed loop" oflines can be achieved in a simple manner. All elements have preferablyan adapted lower portion in order to obtaining a cooperation with therecesses in the covering struture, as the tile floor.

These and other features of the invention will be further elucidated inthe figure description following hereinafter with reference to a numberof embodiments.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a building provided with anupright bearing construction having floor levels extending between,

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of a part of a floor area having placedon it members for duct-like parts and a partition wall as according to afirst embodiment,

FIG. 3 and 4 each show perspective views of a floor level correspondingto FIG. 2 with respectively a second and third embodiment of the membersfor duct-like parts.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective top view of a part of a floor constructionhaving the covering construction according to the invention arrangedthereon,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective top view of a complete floor having tilesaccording to a matrix pattern arranged thereon,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding with FIG. 5 of a detail ofthe tiles in a first embodiment,

FIG. 8 shows a perspective top view corresponding with FIG. 7 of adetail of the tiles as according to a second embodiment.

Indicated in the figures with the numeral 1 is the unfinished floorlevel of, for example, reinforced concrete. Also understood here by theterm floor level is the floor of the ground floor and both higher andlower residential or user levels. The construction of the floor area canbe of any type, being in prefab form or made from cast-in-situ concrete.Also falling within the idea of a floor area are floors of othermaterials, such as wood.

The building for residential or utility purposes shown in FIG. 1 is onlyindicated schematically whereby a side wall 2 is shown and a floor partof the level lying directly above. In addition the rear wall 3 is shownonly schematically while the wall located opposite side wall 2 is brokenaway for the sake of clarity.

It is assumed that the level spaces bounded by the floor areas 1 andwalls 2, 3 have to be divided up into smaller rooms, such as for exampleliving room or bedrooms, kitchen, toilet and the like. The arrangementof the living space is pre-determined and this arrangement is marked outon the rough floor 1. This is done by means of lines for instance whichare designated in the drawing by 4. These lines define the position ofthe duct-like parts 5 to be arranged thereon, thus enabling a completeoverview of the rooms to be arranged. The duct parts 5 are furtherexplained with reference to the FIG. 2-4. It is noted that at the pointswhere there must be passageways the duct parts 5' take a recessed form.

The partition walls can next be arranged on the duct-like parts 5. Theconstruction of these partition walls may be of random type and fallotherwise outside the scope of the invention. Conceivable here arebrickwork, prefab wall panels, or a wooden bearing frame with a randomsheet covering, which may or may not be sound-proofing.

Where necessary however the duct-like parts 5 are provided in advancewith lines for gas, water, electricity and also for discharge pipes.

In order to obtain an easy connection, floor 1 can be pre-formed withgroove channel-like recesses 7 which extend for example along the wholeperiphery of floor 1, or alternatively, parallel to each other anddistributed over the floor surface for example, see groove channels 7'in the upper floor level 1.

Opening into such a groove channel 7 are the exterior lines 8 fitted bythe contractor. The desired line system can in this way be disposed inthe building in a simple manner, without any hacking or breaking beingnecessary.

The duct-like parts 5 can finally be fixed in place by applying a screedlayer 9, which is shown schematically in FIG. 1 only in the left-handrear corner. The principal function of the screed layer is however toobtain a "submerged" line system, as a result of which passage beneathfloor level at openings is effected without problem.

Various embodiments of duct-like parts will now be explained withreference to the FIG. 2-4.

The duct-like part in FIG. 2 thus consists of a metal part 10substantially bent into a U-shape, which part consists of a verticallydirected standing body part 11 formed along the upper edge with anoutward facing flange 12 and on the bottom edge with an outward facingflange 13. In the embodiment shown two such profiles are in each caseplaced back-to-back so that a substantially I-shaped profile isobtained.

The lower flange 13 is also provided with an upright end edge 14, thefunction of which is further described later.

Placing of such duct-like parts along the lay-out lines 4 and subsequentadhering in random manner of these parts to the floor 1 results in ductsopening to the outside in which the lines L can be accommodated. Such aduct intersects at some point a groove channel 7 recessed into the floorarea 1 and having main lines H arranged therein. Connections can be madeat the intersection of lines L and main lines H.

As a result of the laying of screed layer 9 the duct-like parts andprofiles 11, and therefore also the lines L, come to lie slightlyrecessed relative to the top layer of the floor. These lines can in thisway be fed underneath a passageway 6 that may be formed, whereby thegroup of lines at this passageway 6 can be covered off at the top by ahollow sill consisting for example of a U-shaped duct part 15. This ductpart opening to the top can be covered off by a sill beam 15'. It isalso possible to fit duct part 15 in a reverse manner to that shown. Inthis way a floor without sills is obtained. The upper flanges 12 serveto accommodate a continuous strip 16 onto which a partition wall 17 canbe placed. It will be apparent that after placing of this partition wall17 the line duct and therefore the lines L remain accessible on bothsides of the partition wall. The ducts can be covered off on both sidesby a skirting board (not shown).

From FIG. 2 it will be apparent that the height of the upright edge 14has approximately the thickness of the screed layer 9 so that afterapplying of screed layer 9 the parts 11 can be completely fixed.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment, whereby the same parts aredesignated with the same reference numeral. A duct-like part 10 consistshere of two body plates arranged at an interval from each other, wherebythe upper flange 12 can be common to both body plates so that finally areversed U-shaped cross section is obtained. The plate is formed on theunderside with an outward facing flange 13 of a height such that thescreed layer 9 can come to lie against it.

Duct-like parts 10 are arranged at a determined pitch s from each otherso that between the duct-like parts 10 a space is left for keepingaccessible the lines L fitted between body plates 11.

In order to obtain a solid construction a supporting layer 18 is laidbeforehand on the floor area 1 and on this layer is arranged a batten 19the width of which corresponds to the width of flange 12, so that thebody plates 11 come down on either side of it.

Also shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3 is a groove channel 7 in thefloor area having therein the main lines H, which can be connected tothe lines L. A line L can also be bent directly into main line 7. Alsoshown is a line L' accommodated parallel to the duct-like parts 10 inthe screed layer, which line continues into groove channel 7 of thefloor area. Such a line construction may be necessary due to separatingof lines of different types, for instance electricity cables and waterpipes.

After the lines are connected and the partition wall 17 positioned, theduct-like parts 11 can be covered on either side by a skirting board 20,the construction of which may likewise be random. Owing to the recessesbetween the duct-like parts 11, wall junction boxes 21 and the like canbe located in the skirting board and replaced later.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment whereby the duct-like part consists of agabion-like construction consisting of longitudinal rods 22 andcross-bars 23. The construction is such that a U-shaped cross section isobtained so that two standing body parts are realized arranged at aninterval from each other, connected together at the bottom andreinforced by extra cross-bars 24. These rest on a continuous strip 18which is pre-fitted on the floor area 1.

Cross-bars 23 are joined to each other at the top by an angle piece 25of which the horizontal outward facing flange serves as support surfacefor the partition wall 17 to be arranged thereon or a pre-laid bearingstrip 16.

This embodiment lends itself for pre-laying of the lines L in betweenthe standing cross-bars 23 while the lines L nevertheless remainaccessible from the side after placing of the partition wall 17. Theconnection with main lines H lying in groove channel 7 is here alsopossible without a great deal of work.

As in the previously described embodiments the duct-like part is coveredat the side by a random skirting board 20.

It will be apparent that in this embodiment the screed layer 9 can alsofix duct-like part 5 in position.

The floor construction shown in FIG. 5 consists of a supporting floor31, which is manufactured, cast or prefabricated in advance in thebuilding structure (not shown). The bearing construction 31 may be ofany random dimensions and is considered to fall outside the scope of theinvention.

According to the invention tiles 33 are arranged on the flat or, ifrequired, levelled off upper surface 32 of the supporting floor, suchtiles having predetermined dimensions. The tiles lie in rows parallel toa reference line A--A (as in FIG. 7), which is predefined in aco-ordinate system X-Y determined by a longitudinal and transverse edgeof the rough floor. The line A--A may also run diagonally.

The tiles are rectangular and preferably square. It is to be understoodthat FIGS. 5-8 as well as FIGS. 1-4 are directed to configurations inwhich the partition walls are an important part of the invention. Thatis to say, an over-riding feature of the invention in all embodimentsthereof is the use of structural walls such as the walls 2 and 3 shownin FIG. 1 which are to be sub-divided into smaller rooms by means ofinterior partition walls. In FIG. 1 the partition walls are providedalong the duct-like parts 5. In FIG. 5 the partition walls 41 areprovided atop the duct-like parts 48 and this construction is likewisecontemplated in FIGS. 6 and 8 and is further illustrated in FIG. 7 at 41and 41'. The upper face of each tile is provided with recesses, here inthe form of intersecting grooves 34. The grooves shown are laid suchthat the raised parts lying between them again form a regular pattern,whereby they are disposed over the surface such that the raised parts 35along the edges together with the parts of the adjoining tile will havethe same dimension as the raised parts 36 located inside.

The tile is formed on the bottom with a recess 37, which preferablyextends along the periphery thereof.

Laying of the tiles 33 against one another therefore creates from thegrooves 34 continuous channels on the upper side and channels on theunderside made up of the recesses 37. The channels at the top may beused for laying of lines 38, for example water pipes and electricitycables, which are separated from each other by the raised parts 36 ofthe tiles. On the underside outlet lines 39 may be arranged, from whichis apparent that the crossing of supply and drain lines takes place ondifferent levels, which enables system building to be carried out moreeasily.

If the drain line 39 is larger in diameter than the inner periphery ofthe channel formed by the recesses 37, an edge strip of the tile canthen be easily removed owing to the small thickness between the edgegroove 34 and the recess 37 in the tile.

Grooves 34 may also be used for arranging attachment means 40 for theupright parts, for example a partition wall 41 as illustrated in FIG. 5.The attaching parts 40, for example in the form of wooden blocks, may bearranged in advance at the place where a partition wall 41 is planned.Subsequently a foot part of the wall 41, for example in the shape of askirting construction 48 (see FIG. 7), may be laid on blocks 40, withoutadditional work for the dimensioning thereof being necessary. A veryfine-mesh matrix is in any case formed by the grooves 34, making itpossible to determine the dimensioning of the area to be laid out abovethe floor in a simple manner during construction, without it beingnecessary to carry out additional measurements. Not only does thisreduce mistakes during measurement, it also considerably accelerates thebuilding process. In addition, the location of the partition walls 41can be easily determined per space in accordance with the wishes of thefuture user, even during construction. In this way systematicconstruction is maintained without difficulty. The same applies toalterations in the layout which may be desired at a later stage. It isnoted that the walls need not necessarily run along the grooves, but mayalso enclose an angle with them (see 41').

After the partition walls 41 in FIG. 7 have been placed on the tiles, acovering layer 42 can be fitted, which is shown here in the form ofsheets of any desired material. These sheets too can have standarddimensions and are laid unattached on the tiles 33. The sheets can befitted to one another along their edges by means of connecting strips43, which are let into the grooves 34 beforehand. The sheets aresubsequently attached onto the strips 43 by means of nails 44.

Owing to the continuous groove 34 under the partition wall 41,continuous strips 43 can also be arranged under partition wall 41, ontowhich strips the covering layer 42 can be nailed down in order toprevent flapping up along the edges of the room.

In an embodiment of the tiles as according to FIG. 7 and 8, the grooves34 are widened locally at 45 such that when the tiles 33 are laidagainst one another (see FIG. 7 ), a recess in the form of a square orrectangle (see at 46) is obtained. In this recess a block can beinserted which may serve as a connection for four corner points of thesheets in the covering layer 42 by nailing of these corners to theblock. It is on the other hand possible to use the recess for auxiliarymaterial, e.g. junction boxes and the like, for the lines to be placedin the recesses. In the embodiment according to FIG. 8 the square recess45' has been arranged in the tile itself, into which is inserted theassociated block 47 for nailing.

Such an embodiment makes it possible to determine the position of thetile 33 relative to the space owing to the asymmetrical location of therecess 45', so that when the tiles are laid correctly, a mainmeasurement of the matrix obtained can be determined in a simple manner.This makes it easier to determine the measurements required.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Thetile for example need not be square, but may also have a rectangularform. The recess 34 may also take a form different from the groovesshown. The number of grooves per tile may deviate from that which isdrawn. Finally, the tiles need not lie abutting one another, but somedistance may also be maintained between them.

We claim:
 1. The method of building construction, which comprises thesteps of:forming a building framework including a supporting floorhaving a slab-like layer disposed in spaced relation above the bottomsurface of the floor, said layer having horizontal grooves in its lowersurface and horizontal grooves in its upper surface so that the groovesin the lower surface and the grooves in the upper surface are adapted toreceive lines or conduits of different kinds; laying a line of a firstkind in a horizontal groove of said lower surface, laying a line of asecond kind in a first horizontal groove of said upper surface, andlaying a line of a third kind in a further horizontal grove of saidupper surface so that said lines of said second and third kink pass oversaid line of a first kind; said horizontal grooves in said upper surfacebeing orthogonal to each other to define a grid and said lines of saidsecond and third kind being routed within said grid.
 2. The method asdefined in claim 1 wherein said slab-like layer is divided into aplurality of contiguous tiles, said grooves in said lower surfaceextending circumferentially of each tile.
 3. The method as defined inclaim 2 including a step of erecting duct-like parts atop said tiles anderecting partition walls atop said duct-like parts.
 4. The method ofconstructing a building having different categories of utility lines atmultiple, separated vertical levels in the same floor structure wherebythe utility lines may be installed in orderly sequence of differentlevels without interference in routing among the lines, which comprisesthe steps of:providing a building structure having a horizontal,sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor layer presenting an upper surfacelevel and a lower surface level, and defining an occupancy area;providing at least a first channel in said floor layer so as to liebetween said upper surface level and said lower surface level; providinga first category of utility lines within said first channel so that anysuch utility line is disposed at a level below said upper surface level;providing a layout of partitioning ducts on the load-bearing floor layerwith the layout defining selected rooms in accord with a freely selectedlayout of rooms within the occupancy area; providing interruptions insaid partitioning ducts at door openings to the rooms; providing afurther category of utility lines within at least one of saidpartitioning ducts so as to be at a level which is above said uppersurface level; providing a covering layer of finite thickness on theupper surface of the load-bearing floor layer to form sides of sillrecesses bounding the interruptions; lengthwise bridging the sill recessof said at least one of said partitioning ducts with the furthercategory of utility lines; covering the sill recesses; and providingpartition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close off said rooms. 5.The method as defined in claim 4 including the steps of providing saidpartitioning ducts with open sides whereby utility lines disposedtherein are exposed to access, and ultimately covering the sides of saidpartition ducts.
 6. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said firstchannel opens onto said lower surface level and defines a first channelpattern and including the steps of providing a second channel pattern insaid layer opening onto said upper surface level and providing acategory of utility lines within said second channel pattern so as tolie at a level which is above the level of the first channel pattern butbelow said upper surface level.
 7. The method as defined in claim 6including the step of laying tiles on said floor structure to form saidload-bearing floor layer, said tiles having said first channel patternsin their bottom surfaces and said second channel patterns in their topsurfaces.
 8. The method as defined in claim 7 including the steps ofproviding said first category of utility lines to include sewage linesin a layout on said floor structure compatible with said first channelpattern and laying said tiles onto said floor structure to receive saidlayout of sewage lines within said first channel pattern thereof;providing the utility lines within said second channel pattern toinclude water lines; and providing said further category of utilitylines as electrical lines; and only then covering said floor layer andsaid sill openings.
 9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the stepof providing the layout of partitioning ducts comprises locating atongue of each partitioning duct in a channel of said second channelpattern.
 10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said floorstructure is the floor of a large building and including the step ofsubdividing such floor into a plurality of units each surrounded by itsown walls and including the step of laying out the partitioning ductsdifferently in at least some of said units.
 11. The method as defined inclaim 4 wherein said floor structure is the floor of a large buildingand including the step of subdividing such floor into a plurality ofunits each surrounded by its own walls and including the step of layingout the partitioning ducts differently in at least some of said units.12. The method of building construction, which comprises the stepsof:forming a building framework including a slab-like floor layer havingan upper surface defining a habitable area, said layer having at leastone horizontal groove opening onto its lower surface; providing apattern of duct-like parts on said layer in accord with an arbitrarilyselected room layout in said habitable area; providing utility linesrequired for said habitable area in said horizontal groove below saidupper surface as well as in said duct-like parts above said uppersurface; and providing partition walls atop said duct-like parts to formrooms.
 13. The method as defined in claim 12 including the step ofcommunicating said horizontal groove with at least one duct-like partthrough said layer and routing a utility line between said horizontalgroove and said one duct-like part.
 14. The method as defined in claim12 including the step of providing horizontal groves in the uppersurface of said layer and wherein said utility lines are also providedin the horizontal grooves in said upper surface below said uppersurface.
 15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein said layer isprovided as discrete tiles and including the step of providing a grid ofintersecting recesses in the upper surfaces of said tiles to define saidhorizontal grooves in the upper surface of said layer.
 16. The method asdefined in claim 15 including the step of providing each tile with acircumferential groove on its bottom surface to define said horizontalgroove in the lower surface of said layer.
 17. The method ofconstructing a building, which comprises the steps of:providing abuilding structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearingfloor defining an occupancy area; providing a pattern ofhorizontally-extending, narrow, and open-sided partitioning ducts ofinterrupted, finite vertical height on the load-bearing floor with thepattern being in accord with an arbitrarily selected layout of roomswithin the occupancy area and with the partitioning ducts beinginterrupted at door openings into said rooms whereby to present sillrecesses therealong; providing utility lines within at least some ofsaid partitioning ducts whereby said lines are exposed for accessthrough the open sides of the partitioning ducts within which they arelocated and are temporarily exposed within any sill recesses in whichthey may be located; providing partition walls atop said partitioningducts to close in said rooms while leaving said lines exposed; providinga finish floor covering on the load-bearing floor within the boundariesof said pattern and over said sill recesses; and closing off the opensides of the partitioning ducts.
 18. The method as defined in claim 17including the step of providing said load-bearing floor as a base layerwith a layer of tiles defining a grid of intersecting grooves.
 19. Themethod as defined in claim 17 wherein at least one of said utility linesis an electrical line and including the steps of providing electricaloutlets in said partitioning ducts and connecting said outlets to saidelectrical line.
 20. The method of building construction, whichcomprises the steps of:providing a building floor having a horizontallayer defining an upper surface and a lower surface, said layer havinghorizontal grooves in its upper surface and at least one horizontalgroove in its lower surface so that the groove in the lower surface andthe grooves int eh upper surface are adapted to receive utility lines orconduits of different kinds with vertical separation therebetween;providing a layout of duct-like parts on said upper surface; providing autility line of a first kind in the horizontal groove of said lowersurface; providing further utility lines in the duct-like parts and inthe horizontal grooves of said upper surface so that said lines of saidfirst kind and said further utility lines are vertically separated; andproviding a finish floor layer on the upper surface of the horizontallayer.
 21. The method as defined in claim 20 including the step ofproviding said layer with a grid of intersecting grooves on its uppersurface and a network of closed grooves on its lower surface.
 22. Themethod as defined in claim 20 wherein said layout is in accord with anarbitrary layout of rooms within an occupancy area and including thesteps of interrupting the duct-like parts at door openings into saidrooms whereby to present sill recesses; and providing partition wallsatop said duct-like parts so as to close in the rooms.
 23. The method asdefined in claim 20 wherein said further utility lines are electricallines and including the step of providing electrical outlets in saidduct-like parts and connecting said outlets to said electrical lines.24. The method of constructing a building, which comprises the stepsof:providing a building structure having a horizontal,sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor layer presenting an upper surfaceat a first level and defining an occupancy area; providing at least onehorizontal-extending channel structure in said layer and openingdownwardly below said first level; providing a utility line of a firstkind within said channel structure; providing a pattern ofhorizontally-extending partitioning ducts of finite vertical height onthe load-bearing floor layer with the pattern being in accord with anarbitrary layout of rooms within the occupancy area, said ducts beingopen-sided above said first level; providing a utility line of a secondkind at a second level above said first level within at least one ofsaid partitioning ducts whereby said line of a second kind is exposedfor access through the open sides of the at least one partitioning duct;providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close off saidrooms; and providing a finish floor layer on the upper surface of theload-bearing floor layer.
 25. The method as defined in claim 24including the step of providing a grid of intersecting channels in theupper surface of said layer.
 26. The method as defined in claim 25including the step of providing said channel structure as a network ofrectangular channels in the bottom surface of said layer.
 27. The methodas defined in claim 26 including the step of providing said load-bearingfloor layer as a layer of tiles defining a grid of intersecting grooves.28. THe method as defined in claim 27 including the step of providingsaid tiles with circumferential grooves, the circumferential groovesbeing in lower surfaces of the tiles and the intersecting grooves beingin upper surfaces of the tiles.
 29. The method as defined in claim 27including the step of locating tongues of said partitioning ducts in thegrid of intersecting grooves.
 30. The method as defined in claim 29wherein said utility line of the second kind is an electrical line andincluding the step of providing electrical outlets in said at least onepartitioning duct and connecting said outlets to said electrical line.31. The method as defined in claim 24 wherein said utility line of thesecond kind is an electrical line and including the step of providingelectrical outlets in said at least one partitioning duct and connectingsaid outlets to said electrical line.